“I’m resting it right now and see in a few days or a week where it’s at and then decide on when to get going on rehab,’’ DeKeyser said. “In a few more days I’ll hopefully take this sling off and see if I can start walking without it.

“They 3-to-6 or 4-to-6 weeks I’d be back, so hopefully I can push it as hard as I can and get back as quick as possible without hurting it long term. So maybe I’ll be out like a month.’’

Being on long-term injured reserve, the Detroit Red Wings rookie defenseman must sit out a minimum of 10 games and 24 days. So the earliest he could return is Dec. 14, but it doesn’t sound like he’ll ready by then.

“It’s a little bit of a setback for me,’’ DeKeyser said. “I’ll just have to work hard when I come back and get to playing the game I was playing and just back up to speed.’’

“I’ve never had a separated shoulder before so I didn’t know what it felt like, but I knew right away when it happened something was wrong,’’ DeKeyser said. “I was in a lot of pain.’’

DeKeyser suffered a broken thumb during the Red Wings’ second playoff game last spring, knocking him out of the postseason. He returned to play for the Grand Rapids Griffins in the AHL Calder Cup finals.

“Injuries happen sometime and I’ve been unfortunate to have two injuries happen to me in the last six months,’’ DeKeyser said. “It’s bit of a bummer. I’ll just have to strengthen up and get back next month.’’